1 Lari (₾1), Georgia 2006

Obverse (Image 1) — features the National Coat of Arms: a shield containing a silver rider on a horse with a silver spear topped with a golden cross — Saint George with a golden halo, striking a silver dragon. The shield is crowned with the Iverian (Georgian) crown and is supported by two gilded lions standing on a compartment of stylized vine ornament. The base presents a ribbon with the motto “Strength is in Unity”. Foreign Currency The inscription “საქართველო” (Sakartvelo — Georgia in Georgian script) arcs along the top, and the date “2006” appears at the lower right. The left half of the coin features a distinctive diagonal milled pattern.

Reverse (Image 2) — the large numeral “1” with the word “ლარი” (Lari) below, surrounded by a laurel wreath. Again, half of the surface is milled in a striking diagonal pattern — a unique design feature of Georgian coins.

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The designer

The coin was designed by Mamuka Gongadze — a Georgian heraldry specialist, architect, and artist who is also the author of the Georgian state coat of arms and Deputy Chairman of the State Council of Heraldry at the Parliament of Georgia. Dema Coins

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Where it was minted

The first mintage of 2006 1 Lari coins was struck at the Royal Dutch Mint in the Netherlands. After 2006, circulation increased several times and coins were minted at various mints across Europe. Notably, “2006” is a frozen date — coins bearing this date were struck for many years after 2006. Numista

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About the Georgian Lari

The lari (Georgian: ლარი) is the currency of Georgia, divided into 100 tetri. The name lari is an old Georgian word meaning “hoard” or “property”, while tetri is an ancient Georgian monetary term meaning “white”, used in ancient Colchis from the 6th century BC. Wikipedia

The first ever circulating lari coin is dated 2006 — coins of this series were minted in three different countries: Austria (50 tetri), the Netherlands (1 lari) and Great Britain (2 lari).